We have been saying this for weeks and weeks, but once again defensive errors cost Leeds United at home to Watford.
It would be amazing to think where Leeds would be if they could stop giving very simple goals away. Watford were no pushovers today, they were very sound defensively, and were probably unlucky to draw from a shocking own goal. Simon Grayson for me got it all wrong today, Somma and Gradel were up top, and yet the Leeds team seemed adamant to play the ball long and in the air.
Grayson was ruthless with his team selection after the defeat to Derby, Robert Snodgrass and George McCartney returned from injury, Davide Somma and Bradley Johnson were also recalled to the starting eleven. Barry Bannan, Jake Livermore, Paul Connolly and Luciano Becchio were the quartet who dropped to the bench.
In the opening twenty minutes, both teams failed to test each others keepers, Leeds were playing 4-4-2 which is beyond me, United can not play that formation we all know it. As the clock ticked away in the corner of the South Stand, Leeds got worse and worse. The passes were wayward, the defence began to panic, and Watford were growing in confidence.
United had the best chance of the first half when Max Gradel's shot hit the bar, after some good work from Scottish International Robert Snodgrass. At half-time we were made to watch the so called match highlights once again, and also that horrendous video from Neil Hudgell.
After ten minutes of the second half, Luciano Becchio was brought on for midfielder Neil Kilkenny, the Argentine was straight into the thick of things tussling with man mountain Martin Taylor. Watford were still going close on the counter attack, and they came very close to snatching the lead. Don Cowie met Danny Graham's cross and his effort rebounded off the post into the hands of a grateful Schmeichel.
Scott Loach was then called into action, to pick the ball out of the back of his net. Barry Bannan's superb free-kick was met by a flying Luciano Becchio to make it 1-0 Leeds. Moments later Becchio had a golden chance to make it 2-0, how he missed is beyond me. The only excuse I will allow Mr Becchio is that he believed he was offside, but what are you told as a kid? Always play to the whistle.
And then surprise surprise, Leeds made a shocking defensive error. For some reason Kasper Schmeichel decided to come out for a cross, and was found in no man's land when the ball was flicked over his head into an empty net. Usually Schmeichel blames the defence, but you could tell from his reaction what he thought of his mistake. Becchio's afternoon was short lived, after falling awkwardly on his knee, Becchio then took a further knock which ended his already afternoon prematurely.
McCormack was brought on for Luciano, but then it got worse for the Whites. Danny Graham did well to stay calm under pressure, squaring the ball to Andy Weimann who tapped the ball home. For the second time in a week, Leeds fans had seen their side throw a 1-0 lead once again. For once Leeds got a stroke of luck, Troy Denney scored a cracker of an own goal, when he sliced Barry Bannan's corner past Loach.
A 2-2 draw is a bad result for Leeds, there was some shocking managerial decisions by Grayson. It is becoming a broken record, constantly every week reporting on who has defended poorly on a Saturday. The defenders need to stop panicking, and use some common sense, repeatedly kicking the ball in the air to Gradel. To make matters worse, United face Reading next Friday at Elland Road, the Royals have won eight in a row. Leeds will not be challenging for anything, unless they cut the mistakes at the back, I feel the mistakes will not disappear until next season.
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